Tri-plug



Oct. 20, 1936. Q a B E 2,058,292

TRI-BLUG Filed May 2, 1934 InvehtOT" George E. Benander,

2.9M 5. l is Attorney.

Patented Oct. 20, 1936 UNITED srATss TM-PLUG v George B. Benander, Yalesville, Conn, asslgnor to Monowatt Electric'Corporation, Bridgeport. Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application May 2, 1934, Serial No. "123,534 I 3 Claims. (01.173-334) My invention relates to a multieoutlet plug or tri-plug. Multi-outlet plugs or tri-plugs are provided to increase the number of outlets from a receptacle. 5 duplex receptacle in which two outlets are provided, it has been found that not'all of the outlets provided in the tri-plug could be utilized, the reason being that one of the side outlets of the tri-plug is adjacent to the other outlet of the receptacle. Thus when the other outlet of the receptacle is used, it is impossible to insert an attachment cap in the adjacent side outlet of the plug.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved multi-outlet. or tri-plug in which all ceptacle; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the tri-plug with one part of the body removed; Fig. 3 is an exploded view of the contact members and spacer of the tri-plug, and Fig. i is a perspective view of one part of the body wit the contacts removed.

Referring to the drawing, Fig. 1 shows a duplex receptacle Iii with two outlets H and I2. The usual face plate i3 is provided. My improved tri-plug i4 is inserted in the outlet II. An attachment cap l5 on the end of cord 88 is connected to one of the side outlets of the tri-plug l4. Attachment cap H on the end of cord 18 is connected to the other outlet i2 of receptacle I a. As may be seen in Fig. 1 the other outlets of tri-plug i4 may readily be utilized by connecting attachment caps to each .of them. As

pointed out above, it has been the usual practice to'so form the tri-plug that when it is con-' nected to one of the outlets, as outlet ll, of a duplex receptacle the side outlets are located along the longitudinal axis of the receptacle. When so located, one of the side outlets is ad- 50 jacent' tothe other outlet of the duplex receptacle. It is then only possible to use either this side outlet or the other outlet of the duplex receptacle and it is not possible to use both of these outlets. The reason for this has been 55 the fact that the two slots necessary in each of When such a plug is used in a and also perpendicular to the plane of the spring the outlets of the duplex receptacle" extend longitudinally of the receptacle. The prong of the tri-plug and the spring contact blades have for-' merly been located in a common plane, as it was believed necessary for the securing of the contacts in the body of insulating material, so

that when these tri-plugs are inserted in. the

, openings of one of the outlets oi the duplex receptacle the side openings are necessarily located in the longitudinal axis of the receptacle. 10 As better indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, tri-plug H is provided with contacts i9 and 20 each consisting of a contact prong 2| and 22 respectively and three spring contact blades 23, 24, 25 and 26, 21, 28, respectively, which extend in planes 5 at right angles to the contact prongs. The triplug i4 is provided with a body member consisting of two identical halves 28 and 30 of insulating material. The dividing plane ofthe body memher is parallel to thecontact prongs 2| and 22 contact blades. Openings are provided in the sides and one end of the tri-plug M through which the contact prongs of attachment caps are adapted to pass. The spring contact blades of contact i9 are located in line with one of the openings of each of the outlets of the side and top of tri-plug id. The spring contact blades of contact 28 are similarly in line with the other openings of each of the outlets. To reinforce the contact prongs of attachment caps inserted in tri-plug i4 and thus maintain contact pressure between the spring contact blades and the prongs, integral projections 3i and 32 are pro- ,vided extending within two parts or halves 29 contact prongs 2| and 22 extending parallel with v the plane of division of the body member to provide slots in the body member in which the prongs may be seated, a plate 33 of insulating material is provided with end recesses 34 and 35 in which the contact prongs 2i and 22 are adapted to rest. Plate 33 is secured in position in the two halves or parts of the body member by means of integral projections 36 and 31. In the assembly of the tri-plug the contacts I9 and 20 are located in one of the halves as or easy to assemble and of relatively low cost of manufacture. In addition, the contact blades are provided in a plane at right angles ,to the plane of the contact prong so that when the tri-plug is used in a duplex receptacle all of the outlets of the tri-plug may be utilized.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is;

1. A tri-plug comprising a body member having two identical halves or insulating material, openings in the sides and ends of said halves of insulating material for the passage of contact prongs, two contact members having three spring contact blades each located in line with one of said openlugs and a contact prong extending in a plane at right angles to the plane of said blades, a plate of insulating material located between and holding said contact members in spaced relation, and integral projections from said body member to hold said plate in a plane'at right angles to the planes of said contact prongs.

2. A tri-plug comprising a two-part member of insulating material, openings in the sides and one end of said body member for the passage of prongs 01' an attachment cap, integral projections within said body member in line with said openings forming a wall which the prongs may engage on entering said openings, spring contact blades in line with said openings, contact prongs connected to said blades and extending parallel to the plane of division of said bodymember, a plate of insulating material located between and holding said contact prongs in spaced relation, and integral projections from said two-part member to hold said plate in a plane at right angles to the planes of said contact prongs.

3. A tri-plug comprising a body member having two identical halves oi! insulating material, openplate of insulating material located between and holding said contact members in spaced relation,

said plate being positionedbetween integral projections within said body member and extending in a-plane at right angles to the planes of said contact prongs.

' GEORGE B. BENANDER. 

